Mother's Minigardens

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The deep-mulch system can, in principle, substantially enrich the soil. Essentially, it imitates the natural process of the forest, where fallen leaves gradually break down to a rich, black humus. People tell of long—established DM gardens that have soil—under the mulch—so loose you can push your hand down into it. The drawback is time: It may take years for the soil to become significantly developed.

Why We Use BFI at MOTHER

Alan Chadwick, founder of biodynamic/ French intensive gardening, once said, "The object of gardening is not production-it is happiness in God's Creation." He meant not only the happiness of the gardener as he or she works in the air and sun or enjoys the fruit of those labors, but also the happiness (or well-being) of the soil, the plants, and the other living creatures making up the plot's "ecosystem." The gardener expresses the love and caring that he or she feels for the earth and all life.

It is clearly possible to have this same attitude while using a gardening method other than BFI. This technique, however, encourages a caring philosophy every step of the way. It's built right into the method—from the intimate connection with the soil that comes through hand-digging, to the sowing of seeds in flats and their gentle transplanting, to the beauty of the livingmulch concept.

That—rather than efcient use of space and increased yields—is the major reason why we choose to use the biodynamic/French intensive method in our main gardens at MOTHER's Eco-Village.

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